Door fireplace screen



H. E. WEINSTEIN DOOR FIREPLACE SCREEN April 14, 1959 Filed Jan. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flermazzl Wz'nsleizz BY ATTORNEY April 1959 H. E. WEINSTEIN 2,881,754

DOOR FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed Jan. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z8 30 3.3. 34 27f S 3/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOOR FIREPLACE SCREEN Herman E. Weinstein, Schenectady, NY. Application January 20, 1954, Serial No. 405,139 2 Claims. (Cl. 126-202) This invention relates to fireplace screens. More particularly, the invention concerns screens having movable screen doors associated with a stationary frame, to allow easy access to the fireplace without moving the screen as a whole.

Conventional fireplace screens must be moved as a unit to gain access to the fireplace for any reason. This can be a matter of inconvenience and the screen must be of a construction of minimum weight to make the same portable.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved fireplace screen construction which may be located before the fireplace as a stationary unit and includes movable screen doors which may be moved to gain easy access to the fireplace. Another object of this invention is to provide a fireplace screen having a stationary frame and movable screen doors, such screen being usable with andirons which may be located either to the rear or in front of the screen. A furth'er object of this invention is to provide a fireplace screen of substantial construction and without limit as to the weight of material and including a stationary frame with screen doors movably mounted thereon, together with means for hanging the doors on the frame in a manner to allow andirons to be positioned in front of the screen, the screen doors being movable between closed and open positions and clearing the andirons.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fireplace-screen having-a built in fender guard, the fender guard being slotted .to receive the horizontal portions of andirons located'in front of the screen, the screen including a pair of panels arranged for combined hinged and pivoted movement-in a manner to skirt the andirons andto allow full access to the fireplace. Other objects of this invention will in and in part hereinafter pointed out.

I -In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a door fireplace screen embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof showing thedoor screens in difierent positions; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partial elevational view of a portion of the device; Fig. 4 is a top view thereof with parts in section; Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view showing the door latching detail; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 in Fig. l; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 in Fig. 1.

Referring in details to the drawing, 10 designates a fireplace screen embodying the invention. The same comprises a metal frame generally indicated at 11 and which may be of rectangular shape, it being understood that the same may be modified in accordance with the shape of the fireplace opening with which the screen is to be associated. The opening defined by frame 11 is closed by a pair of door screen panels generally indicated at 12 and swingably mounted on said frame.

The frame 11 comprises a pair of horizontally disposed strips 13, 13a which are welded or otherwise separt be obvious cured to a pair of vertically disposed strips 14, 14a. The vertical strips extend downwardly somewhat below the bottom horizontal strip 13a. A series of short, vertically disposed strips 15, 15a; 16, 16a extend downwardly from bottom strip 13a. The lower ends of paired strips 14, 15;

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. 16, 16a; 14a, 15a, are joined by horizontal strips 17, 18,

19 respectively to form panels spaced from each other by a pair of narrow, vertical slots 20, 21 which are syrnmetrically located with respect to the width of the frame 11. The spaced bottom panels are covered with wire metal cloth, perforated sheet metal, or the like, as at 22 to form a fender guard integral with the frame 11.

Each of the door screen panels 12 comprises a frame made up of metal rod, including horizontal portions 23, 23a suitably joined, as by welding or the like, to vertical portions 24, 24a. Each of the door frames is covered by metal wire cloth of suitable mesh, as at 25, the edges being wrapped and secured about the frame portions.

Means is provided for giving combined hinged and pivotal movement to the screen panels 12. To this end, a pair of similar, U-shaped door hangers, generally indicated at 26, are respectively hinged to the sides of frame 11. Each hanger includes a pair of spaced, horizontally disopsed arms 27, 27a which are joined by a vertical portion 28. Hanger brackets 29 are provided for the opposite ends of hanger portion 28, such brackets including looped portions 30 encircling hanger portion 28, and strap portions 31 fixed to the rear surface of strips 14, 14a by bolts 31a and locating the hanger portions 28 adjacent the inner edges of strips 14, 14a.

The arms 27, 27a of the hangers 26 have a length of about one half the Width of the door panels 12. Each of the panels 12 is mounted on its hanger 26 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. To this end, a pair of short pivot pins 32, 32a extend toward each other from the mid-points'of panel frame portions 23, 23a and are received in the looped portion of bearing brackets 33 which include strap portions 34 fixed to the outer ends of arms 27, 27a. A cotter pin 35 extending through the end portions of pins 32, 32a retain the same in the bearing brackets.

A catch bracket 36 is secured to a mid portion of main frame strip 13 on the inner surface thereof and includes a pair of forwardly extending lips 37 projecting'forwardly of the front surface of the strip 13 to engage door frame portions 23 at the inner ends thereof and thereby support the door panels 12 against sagging in the closed position thereof.

Knobs 38 are secured to the outer surface of wire screen 25 on panels 12 at the upper portion and adjacent the inner sides thereof, by means of metal discs 39, 39a on opposite sides of the screen material, and a screw 40. The inner discs 39a may be of polished aluminum to reflect the heat and to reduce the heat transmitted to the knobs.

The door panels 12 are retained in their closed position by latches 41 which include an arm 42 pivoted at one end to the outer surface of frame strip 13, as at 43, and a depending outwardly curved lip 44 at the other end thereof for engaging door frame portion 23. A knob 45 on the latches 41 allows for easy movement of the same between engaging and disengaging positions thereof.

Andirons, generally indicated at 46 and including horizontal portions 47 and vertical portions 48, maybe located in front of screen 10, the portions 47 projecting through 3. the movement of the screens takes place rearwardly of andi'ron portions 48 with suitable clearance therebetween.

The screen may be provided with forwardly extending legs 49 at the sides and bottom portion thereof, together with handles 50 at. the upper ends thereof, bothof which may also be of an ornamental nature.

Thus, while screen, 10 is adapted to be positioned in front of a fireplace and left in such position, if desired, the screen may be removed if necessary. Alternatively, the, legs and handles may be omitted and the screen may be suitably secured in place at the fireplace opening by means Ofi'bOltS, screws or the like.

Whether portable or fixed, the screen 10 may be left as positioned, the screen doors 12 only being moved between closed and opened positions to allow access to the fireplace for the purpose of introducing fuel, tending the fire,,removing ashes, and the like.

While various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention shown and described without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein shown and described is to be interpreted in an illustrative sense and not *by way of limitation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

l;v A, fireplace screen having front and rear sides, saidrearside being adapted to be positioned in front of afireplace', and having a lower screen portion formed with laterally spaced openings to pass therethrough the horizontal portions of a pair of andirons into said fireplace, the vertical portions of said andirons' being located fol? wardly of the front side of said screen, said screen comprising a rectangular frame above said lower screen portion and a pair of laterally adjacentscreen doors for closing the frame opening, said screen doors being independently mounted on said framefor free, unitary movement toward and away from the front side thereof and in passing relation to the vertical portions of said andirons, said frame comprising interconnected horizontal and vertical members, the peripheral portions of said screen doors lying against the front sides of said frame members in the closed position of said doors, hanger means for hingedly and pivotally mounting said screen doors on said frame; each hanger means comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal arm portion, each of said vertical hanger portions beinglocated'inwardly of an adjacent verticalframe member and rearwardly of the vertical peripheral portions of said screen doors, hanger brackets connecting said vertical hanger portions and adjacent portions of said vertical frame members, said horizontal hanger portions being located inwardly of said horizontal frame members, said-horizontal hanger portions having a length less than'thedistance between the vertical hanger portion and the vertical portion of the associated andiron, said horizontal hanger portions extending from the vertical hanger portion to a point substantially midway between the opposite vertical peripheral portions of said screen doors, andpivotimeans connecting the outer end portions ofsaid" horizontal hanger portions and the top and bot 4 torn horizontal peripheral portions of said screen doors, whereby said screen doors may" have hinged and" pivoted movement about laterally displaced vertical axes for unitary movement away from'the front side of said screen and in passing relation to the vertical portion of said andirons, the horizontal and vertical peripheral portions of said screen doors adjacent the vertical frame members overlying and concealing the horizontal and vertical portions of said hanger means when saidsereen doors are in their closed position.

2. A fireplacescreen having front and rear'sides, said rear side being adapted to be positioned in fronttofa; fireplace structure, said screen comprising a rectangular open frame and a screenportion extendingd'ownwardly from the bottom edge thereof, said screened portion being formed with a pair of laterally spaced, vertical slots for receiving the horizontal portions of andirons positioned forwardly of the front side of said screen,.and a pair. of screen doors movably mounted on said. open frame. for, closing the opening therein, said open frame comprisingv intercom nected' horizontal and vertical members, said screend'oors comprising rectangular frames and' screen covering-,s"elcured to said frames, the screen door frames lying against the front sides of said. horizontal 'and' vertical. members in the closed position of said screen doors, hanger means for hingedly and pivotally mounting said screen doors on said open frame for respectively unitary movement thereof away from and towards said open frame,fhanger'* brackets hingedly connecting said hanger means to the vertical members of said open frame and pivot means" connecting said hanger means with midportions of tli top and bottom horizontal portions ofsaid screen. do I frames to allow pivoted movement of saidiscre'en doors: about a vertical axis, said hanger means comprisi'ng Ho zontal' portions having a length less than the distance'b f tween the hanger brackets and the vertical portions of the andiron associated therewith whereby said screen doors may have unitary movement along a path adjacent the frontsurfaces of said' open frame on. opposite'sides of the slotted screen portions, in clearing relation to the vertical portions of said andirons to expose the opening in said open frame, said hanger means being loc'ated'linwardly of the inner edges of said vertical members and rearwardly of said screen door frames and thereby con cealed by" edge portions" of said screen doors in the closed position of said screen doors.

References Citedin the file ofthispat'ent UNITED STATES PATENTS 349,813 Sams Sept. 28, 1886 676,171 Aaase June 111,. 1901 1,547,857 Clough .etal July-'28,, 192-5 1,740,486 Wheelock Dec. 24,1929 1,904,717 Brewer Apr. 18,, 193.3, 2,598,997 Hyman June 1952" 2,627,914 Helwig Feb. 10, 1953 2,720,008 Topp .Oct. 11,1955: 2,776,707 Helwig Jan. 8,1957 

